Potato-digger



(No Model.) 2' Sheets-Sheet I A. LAURI DTZBN & J. F. NIELSEN.

POTATO DIGrGrERa Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

m I W J, M w

(N0 M del) v v 2 Shets-$heet 2. A. LAURIDTZEN 85 J. F; NIELSEN.

POTATO BIGGER.

No. 424,007 Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

Jler Zdll/ZW/L and JW I? @626 827/ N. PEIERS, Prwm-uam n her.Washington. 0. Q

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT LAURIDTZEN AND JOHN FRED NIELSEN, OF GOWVEN, MICHIGAN.

POTATO-DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 424,007, dated March25, 1890.

Application filed June 12, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT LAURIDTZEN and JOHN FRED NIELSEN, citizensof the United States, residing at Gowen, in the county of Montcalm andState of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Potato-Digger, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to potato-diggers; and the objects in vieware to provide an excessively strong and durable machine having theusual potato digging, cleaning, and delivering adjuncts, each of whichis adjustable by agents under the direct control of the operator, andthis in a manner both simple and effective. 7

With these general objects in view the invention consists in certainfeatures of construction, hereinafter specified, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of apotato-digger constructed in accordance with our invention and embodyingour numerous improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view, the drivers seat, itssupport, and certain controlling mechanism removed. Fig. 3 is a bottomplan of the frame-work. Fig. 4 is a detail in end view of one side ofthe front of the machine. Fig. 51s a detail in front elevation of thetop rake and shovel-adjusting lever. Fig. 6 is a detail in sideelevation of the mechanism for throwing the shaking delivery-screen intoand out of gear. Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of one of the linkscomposing the sprocket-chain, and Fig. 8 is a detail of two of suchlinks in the act of assembling.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

In practicing our invention we construct the main frame of two oppositemetal beams 1, said beams being spaced apart and maintained in relativeposition by means of anglebraces 2, arranged at suitable distances apartand provided with suitable binding-nuts. The beams 1 are channeled, asat 3, (see Fig. 4,) upon their upper faces, and in the same is mountedaT-rib 4, bolted to the beam by means of binding-bolts 5, and upon saidrib, and also connected to the beams 1 by means of the bolts 5, areangle-arms 6, supporting ter-gears 12.

- side plates 7 to which the inner ends of the Serial No. 314,058. (Nomodel.)

arms are bolted. Journaled in bearings 9, secured to the under surfaceof the beams, is the usual traction-shaft 10, carrying at its outer endstraction-wheels 11 and intermediate said wheels and the beams large mas-From the shaft at each side of the frame thereproject opposite half U-shaped hounds 13, the adjacent ends of which are bent at an angle, as at14, and bolted to the draft-beam 15 at its opposite sides, and arebraced by diagonal braces 16, extending from the bolts 17, for securingthe hounds to the draft-beam, and thence rearwardly and connected to thehounds.

From the rear end of the draft-beam 15 there projects anupwardly-inclined spring seat -supporting bar 18, carrying at its rearextremity a seat 19. Pivoted in the bar 18 by means of a transverse bolt20 is a bell-crank lever 21, arranged at each side of the bar 18 andsupporting in its upper ends a hand-lever 22, provided with aspring-bolt 23, engaging a sector 24:, mounted between the bell-cranks21 and upon the beam 18. The two forward ends of the bell-cranks supporta transverse rod 25, the ends of which are bent, as at 26, and arebraced. to the bell-cranks by diagonal braces 27. In the draft-beam infront of its hounds there is pivoted upon a U -shaped bail 28 oppositedepending curved spring rake-teeth 29, designed to rake the tops of theplant, said arms being divergent and curved for the purpose, whereby theentire number of stems or sprouts are gathered or concentrated, and theaction of the shovel following is accordingly efficiently increased. Arod 30 connects the lower ends of the U- shaped bails withthe forwardends of the bell-crank 21, so that by a proper manipulation of thehand-lever 22 the rakes 29 may be raised and lowered and maintain ed inthe desired adjusted position.

Bolted to the side bars or beams 1 and near the forward end are plates31, which project around in front of the machine, and in rear of theirbent portion are provided with bearing-ears 32, perforated to receive abolt 33, upon which is pivoted upwardly-inclined arms 34, the upper endsof which are connected with or terminate in plates 35, longitudinallyslotted, as at 36, for the reception of the spindles 37 of the wheels38, which support the front end of the machine. Diagonal braces 39extend from the upper ends of the arms 34 to the side beams 1. Oppositechains 40 connect the outer ends of the bell-cranks 21; or, rather, thebent portions 26 of the bars 25, with the plates 35, whereby the lever22 serves the additional function of regulating the depth of penetrationof the shovel.

41 represents the inclined shovel, the opposite sides of which are cutaway, forming the usual entering-point, and to the sides of the shovelare bolted opposite jointers or moldboards 42 by means of bolts 43, uponwhich said boards are adjustable by reason of the bolt-holes 44 beingelongated. These boards serve the purpose of casting the dirt to oneside and away from the pivotal connection of the arms 34, which arefurther preserved against injury by means of a guide-bar 45, terminatingin bent arms 46, which pass through blocks 47, said arms being arrangedunderneath the frame, as shown in Fig. 3.

Upon each of the hounds 13 are mounted foot plates or rests 48, thesamebeing adjusted by means of set-screws 49 upon the hounds for theaccommodation of the driver.

50 represents the opposite sections or coneshaped bottom of the machine,by which the dirt adhering to the potatoes may be shed at each side ofthe machine, said bottom being perforated, as at 51, for the passagetherethrough of the numerous shafts for supportin g the mechanism beforeand to be described.

In suitable bearing-blocks 52, secured to a bearing-plate 53, bolted tothe beams 1, is journaled a counter-shaft 54, said bearing being adjustable or movably connected upon a plate 53. At the outer end of thecounter-shafts are mounted small gears 55, and intermediate the gearsand also the side bars 1 are mounted sprockets 56. In rear of thebearing 52 is mounted a second bearing 57, the same being rigid with theplate 53, and in the same is journaled the shaft 10, that carries thetractionwheels, and also a shaft 58, provided with opposite lugs 59 and60. The lug 59 is a socketlug, and is provided with ahand-lever 61,carrying a spring-bolt 62, intermeshing with a sector 63, arranged atone side of thelever 61. The opposite lug 60is by a threaded rod 64adjustably connected to lug 65, formed on the lower face of the slidingbearing-block 52. At the side of each of the beams 1 are providedpivoted agitating-arms 66, the same being pivoted to said beams uponlateral bolts 67 and terminating in angularly-disposed short arms 68.Cams, as 69, are mounted at the master-gears l2, and consequently,taking the lever 61 in the position shown in Fig. 6, the gear 55 and itsactuating mechanism will be in a position to receive motion by therotation of the wheels 11. By reversing the lever 61 the bearing-block52 and the mechanism it carries will be slid to the rear and the gears55 and 12 unmeshed. If desired, the gear12 may be keyed to the shaft 10,or the wheel 11 may be keyed to the shaft and the gear 12 mountedloosely thereon, and by any suitable pawl-and-ratchet mechanism bethrown into and out of connection with the wheel, all as is wellunderstood by those conversant with the construction of this class ofmachines.

72 represents sprocket-chains, which are ranged over the sprocket-wheels56 and run through the channels 73, formed by the angle-arms 6 at eachside of the machine, and at the forward end of the machine over pulleysor sleeves 74, mounted on bolts 67, journaled in guide-plates 75, formedat the ends of the sides of the shovel and the beams 1. The chain isformed of links 76, each of which comprises front and rear end bars 77and 77 respectively, and opposite end connecting side bars 7 7 The frontend bar is cut away between its ends, as at 7 7 leaving opposite lugs orshoulders 7 7 and extending forwardly from the bar is a hook 79. Therear ends of each of the side bars upon their upper faces are cut away,as at 7 7 so that in the act of assembling two of such links the sameare brought together so as to form an acute angle, (see Fig. 8,) therear bar 77 being insorted into the hook 79, which is permitted byreason of cut-away portion 7 7 of the front bar, the lugs or shoulders77 passing by the cut-away port-ion 7 7 and when the links lie in thesame plane said lugs or shoulders abut against the rear bar 7 7 andprevent a sepa ration. Loops 80 are formed upon the inner one of theside bars 77 of each link, and metal straps 81, having their endsturned, as at 82, for connection with the loops 80, (see Fig. 4,)connect the chain at intervals, the whole forming an endless carrier.

It will be noticed, also, that the arms 68 are provided wit-hperforations 83 at their upper ends, whereby they are designed to be adjustably connected with the outer ends of the screen-vibrating arms 66.Perforations 84 are also provided in each of the outer tines of thescreen for adjustable connection with the lower ends of the arms 68. Bythis it will be seen that the screen may be raised and lowered, as willhereinafter be apparent, and also adjusted. For the purpose of rais ingand lowering the screen or shaker we 91 represents the usual tool-chest,which is mounted at any'convenient point andpreferably at the rear endof the draftbeam 15.

Having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a potatddigger,the combination, with a U-shaped bail the opposite arms of which arepivoted in a draft-beam and provided with rearwardlycurved dependingspringteeth, of a hand-lever and a rod connecting the hand-lever withthe lower end of a U- shaped bail, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the pivotal top rake herein described and itsconnecting-rod 30, of the hand-lever 22, mounted in the oppositebell-cranks 21, pivoted to the frame and provided with the bar 25,connected with the connecting-bar of the rake, and of oppositepivotally-connected adjustable supporting-wheels, and chains connectingsaid wheels and bell-cranks, whereby by a niovementof the lever 22 thewheels and rake are uniformly adjusted,substantially as specified.

3. In a potato-digger, the combination, with the endless chains,'ea'chconsisting of a series of links, the inner side bars of which areprovided with inwardly-disposed loops, of a series of transverseconnecting-bars the ends of which are bent to form hooks and engagetheloops of opposite links, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with herein-described endless chains, eachcomprising a series of detachable links, each of which consists ofopposite end bars 77 and77,the latter reduced, as at 77 and providedwithend shoulders 7 7 projecting hook 7 9, and the end bar connectingside bars 7 7 the'rear ends of which are cut away, as 'at 77 to enablethe lockingshoulders 7 7 to pass in the act of connecting the end bar 77with'the hook 79 of the next adjacent link, the inner side bar of eachlink being provided with the loop 80, of the connecting-bars 81,connected with the loops, substantially as specified. j

5. The combination, with the tractionshaft having oppositeforwardly-disposed hounds, of foot-supports, as 48, mounted on each ofthe hounds and adjustable thereon by means of nuts 49, substantially asspecified.

6. The-combination, with the beams 1, of opposite plates provided withbearings, arms pivoted in the bearings and terminating in slottedplates, and of opposite wheels the spindles of which are mounted in theslots, substantially as specified.

7. The combination, with the beams 1, of opposite plates provided withbearings, arms pivoted-in the bearings and terminating in slotted platesand on opposite wheels, the spindles of which are mounted in the slots,

and of guards, as 45, arranged in front of the bolts 83, substantiallyas specified.

8. In a potato digger, the combination, with a sliding bearing-blockprovided with a counter-shaft operated by the main drivingwheel,--of ascreen pivotally connected with the sliding block, and of a hand-leverconnected with the block and adapted to slide the same, substantially asspecified.

9. The combination, with a sliding bearing-block, of a counter-shaftmounted in the same and adapted to mesh'with the mastergear of thedigger, a shaking screen con nected to the block, a lever pivoted inrear of the same, and an adjustable rod connecting the block and lever,substantially-as specified.

10. The combination, with a counter=shaft adapted to be rotated by theground wheels and provided with a cam, of a pivoted arm arranged abovethe cam and adapted to be thrown thereby, and of a potato-screen pivotedat its rear end and loosely connected near its opposite end with thevibratory arm,-

substantially as specified.

' 11. The combination, with the shaking I screen 71, pivoted, as at 70,and its opposite arms having the'perforations 84, of the arm 66,pivoted, as at 67, and having the depending arm" 68, taking in theperforations 84, and perforated, as at 83, for adjustable connectionwith'the arm 66, and ofthe counter-shaft 54, mounted in the bearing 52and provided with a cam 69, subs'tantially'as specified.

12. The combination, with the lever 85, pivoted in the block 86, andhaving the rods 87, connected with the bell-crank 88, of the screen 71,the pivoted arms 66, and the connectingrod 68, the arm 66 being looselyconnected with the bell-crank 88, which is bent, as at 89, for thatpurpose, substantially as specified. 13. The beams 1, having therecesses 3, in combination with the ribs 4 and the anglearms 6, carryingthe sides 7, the arms, ribs, and beams being bound togetherby'the bolts8 and forming the channel 7 3 for the reception of the sprocket-chains,said channel being'further provided with the guides 75 and pulleys 74,mounted on binding-bolts 67, Over which run the sprocketkchains 72,substantially as specified. v

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaffiXed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

. ALBERT LAURIDTZEN. JOHN FRED NIELSEN.

Witnesses:

S. T. WHITTLEsEY, WM.'R. JANns.

